How to Choose Your Gorilla Trekking Date (2026 Guide)

Gorilla trekking permits are the single biggest constraint on a Uganda safari. Here is how we advise our clients to choose the date.

The short answer

Book 6–9 months ahead for peak season (June–September and December–January). For the best mix of weather and quiet trails, we love February–March and November.

Permits

Uganda issues 136 gorilla permits per day across Bwindi and Mgahinga (8 trekkers per family, 17 habituated families). At USD 800 per permit (from July 2024), they are the most expensive single item on most itineraries — and they sell out weeks ahead in high season.

Weather

Bwindi is a rainforest — it can rain any month. The driest months are June–August and December–February; the wettest are March–May and October–November. Rain makes the forest more dramatic, the trails muddier, and the photography moodier.

Still unsure? Send us your preferred travel window and we will check live permit availability and recommend the best dates.